Jordan MMA Week 2026 at Amman's Roman Theatre

At the end of October, Amman’s Roman Theatre swapped plays for a cage. Jordan MMA Week ran from 27 to 31 October 2026 under the slogan “Back to the Cage”, and ended on Friday 30 October with DF UNCAGED, an international fight night held inside the nearly 2,000-year-old theatre in the heart of downtown Amman. It is hard to think of a more dramatic setting for a sporting event.

Here is what happened during the week, and what to see in Amman if the Roman Theatre has caught your eye.

The week

The week was launched at a press conference in Amman on 27 October. It was organised by Desert Force, the regional MMA championship, together with Makana 360 and Jordan Combat Consulting, in cooperation with the Jordan MMA Federation and with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board. Over the following days the fighters and their teams arrived, there were open training sessions and media events, and the official weigh-in took place ahead of fight night.

The tourism angle was clear from the start. The Ministry of Tourism has been working to grow sports tourism in Jordan, and holding an event like this at one of the country’s best-known heritage sites puts Amman in front of a big new audience.

Fight night at the Roman Theatre

DF UNCAGED featured 14 bouts with fighters from ten countries: Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Wales, Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States. Several Jordanian fighters were on the card, including Abdullah Jaweesh, who made his professional debut on the main card. American Andrew Sanchez, winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 23, also fought on the main card, and the main event saw Russia’s Mukhamed Berkhamov take on Dante Schiro of the United States, with Berkhamov taking the win.

It was also an emotional night for Lebanese veteran Mohammad Fakhreddine, who chose Amman for his final fight and announced his retirement after his bout. The evening drew some famous faces too, including Mike Tyson and Ronaldinho.

The show was as much about Jordan as about fighting. Before the main card there were performances by the Jordan Armed Forces bands, dabke and dahiyeh dances by the Ma’an Folk Troupe, a Circassian dance and performers dressed as Roman and Nabataean soldiers. Jordan Television broadcast the whole event, and MBC Action showed the main card live.

Visiting the Roman Theatre

You don’t need a fight night to enjoy the Roman Theatre. It was built in the 2nd century AD, when Amman was the Roman city of Philadelphia, and it is cut into the side of a hill so that the steep rows of stone seats look straight down onto the stage. Climb to the top row for a great view over downtown and across to the Citadel. It holds around 6,000 people, and on a quiet morning you can test the acoustics by speaking from the centre of the stage. Entry is included in the Jordan Pass.

The Citadel is a short walk or taxi ride up the hill. It is the oldest part of Amman, with the Temple of Hercules, an Umayyad palace and the best views in the city. Between the two, the streets of downtown are full of falafel stands, sweet shops and coffee sellers.

Make the most of Amman

Most visitors only spend a night or two in Amman before heading south, but the city deserves more time than that. For ideas, read our guide to the best things to do in Amman and our pick of local restaurants in Amman.

The Roman Theatre and the Citadel are part of the Amman city tour on our Experience Jordan Tour, which then continues to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Red Sea (see our 7-day Jordan itinerary). If you are coming to Jordan for a sports event, we can plan a private tour around it. Just get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

When was Jordan MMA Week 2026?

From 27 to 31 October 2026, with the DF UNCAGED fight night at the Roman Theatre in Amman on Friday 30 October.

Who organised Jordan MMA Week?

Desert Force, with Makana 360 and Jordan Combat Consulting, in cooperation with the Jordan MMA Federation and with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board.